Address
Form of workJudicial Assistant/Paralegal
Position Type: Full Time Regular
Salary Range: $57,118 - $89,835
(Depending on qualifications and experience)
Job Grade: JSP 9-11
Opening Date: December 14, 2023
Closing Date: January 16, 2024, or until filled
Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Position Overview:
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit is seeking a Judicial Assistant/Paralegal to provide executive level administrative support and legal duties to United States Circuit Judge Jane Kelly.
The Judicial Assistant/Paralegal assists the Judge in the daily activities of the office, performing administrative management, secretarial, legal, and related paralegal duties as assigned by the Judge. The Judicial Assistant/Paralegal also assists in the day-to-day conduct of court business. In addition, this position deals with lawyers and members of the public on behalf of the judge. Since the Judicial Assistant/Paralegal is generally the first member of a judge's staff whom outsiders meet, the incumbent must have a pleasant and positive attitude, excellent organization skills and refined customer service skills.
Representative Duties:
• Manage day-to-day operations of chambers in a fast-paced environment. Monitor deadlines, prioritize tasks, and determine need for action by the judge. Compile and arrange information and data and prepare required periodic reports regarding court and non-court activities.
• Assist with selection of term law clerks. Distribute information and assignments to law clerks and interns. Provide orientation and training to law clerks and interns.
• Work cooperatively with and manage term law clerks so that, as a team, they effectively assist the judge in fulfilling judicial responsibilities.
• Effectively manage communications with other chambers.
• Review legal documents as assigned by the judge for completeness and accuracy. Compose, prepare, and/or edit correspondence, procedural orders, and documents that may require research or analysis.
• Perform functions in the court's case management and filing system, including monitoring the caseload, maintaining, updating, and tracking filed documents, organizing case-related filings and correspondence, logging actions, and updating case list. Distribute case information and assignments to law clerks. Screen cases for potential conflict. Maintain recusal list. Track and monitor calendars, filings, hearings, etc. Review daily reports to identify new filings.
• File orders, notices, and opinions in the court's electronic filing system. Create and update templates and standard documents for orders and other related documents.
• Prepare and maintain the judge's travel itineraries and coordinate with other court units. Make travel arrangements and prepare vouchers for reimbursement payments. Maintain the judge's calendar.
• Maintain chambers information storage and filing systems (electronic and paper) for case filings, correspondence, publications, data, forms, and other documents.
• Maintain office supplies and inventory of property assigned to chambers. Place calls for repair of office equipment.
• Other duties as requested.
• Some overnight travel required.
Minimum Qualifications:
• The successful applicant must be a high school graduate or equivalent and must have two years of general experience and four years of specialized experience to qualify for the lowest starting salary.
• The successful applicant must speak and write in grammatically correct and professional quality English and be able to communicate clearly and professionally with the public. In addition, the applicant must be proficient in using Microsoft Outlook email/calendaring, Microsoft Word, Excel spreadsheet management and Adobe. Proficiency is mission critical. General experience is progressively responsible general clerical or secretarial experience, and specialized experience is progressively responsible secretarial experience that involved responsibility as a principal office assistant to a supervisor who was dealing with law-related matters.
• Education above the high school level may be substituted for experience as follows:
Education in a college, university, or secretarial school of recognized standing may be substituted for a maximum of one year of general experience on the basis of 30 semester (45 quarter) hours equal nine months of experience.
A bachelor's degree from a college or university of recognized standing may be substituted for two years of general experience. Preferably, such degree should have included courses in law, government, public or business administration, or related fields.
Education in a legal or paralegal curriculum may be substituted for a maximum of two years of specialized experience on the basis of one full academic year (30 semester or 45 quarter hours) equals one year of experience. Less than one full year of study will be credited on a pro-rata basis.
Preferred Qualifications:
Preference will be given to applicants who possess:
Benefits:
Benefits include paid federal holidays, paid vacation and sick leave, participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), and Thrift Savings Plan (401k). Benefits also include optional participation in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB), Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Program (FEGLI), Flexible Benefits Program, and Dental and Vision Insurance.
Application:
Interested applicants may apply by submitting (1) a completed application for judicial branch employment, form AO-78 (http://www.uscourts.gov/uscourts/FormsAndFees/Forms/AO078.pdf) (2) a detailed resume, and (3) a cover letter electronically at https://ca852383.hire.trakstar.com/jobs/fk0vq5m
Only those interviewed will be notified of the selection outcome. The court reserves the right to modify the conditions of this job announcement or to withdraw the announcement without written notice to applicants. Travel expenses for interviews cannot be reimbursed.
Background Investigation Requirements:
The initial appointment to this position is provisional pending the successful completion of the required background checks and/or investigations. All information provided by applicants is subject to verification and background investigation. Applicants are advised that false statements or omission of information on any application materials or the inability to meet the following conditions may be grounds for non-selection, withdrawal of an offer of employment or dismissal after being employed.
Conditions of Employment:
Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or be eligible to work in the United States. The position issubject to mandatory electronic fund transfer (direct deposit). Judiciary employees serve under excepted appointments and are considered "at will."
The United States Courts are EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYERS
and committed to equity and inclusion in its hiring practices.
Position Type: Full Time Regular
Salary Range: $57,118 - $89,835
(Depending on qualifications and experience)
Job Grade: JSP 9-11
Opening Date: December 14, 2023
Closing Date: January 16, 2024, or until filled
Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Position Overview:
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit is seeking a Judicial Assistant/Paralegal to provide executive level administrative support and legal duties to United States Circuit Judge Jane Kelly.
The Judicial Assistant/Paralegal assists the Judge in the daily activities of the office, performing administrative management, secretarial, legal, and related paralegal duties as assigned by the Judge. The Judicial Assistant/Paralegal also assists in the day-to-day conduct of court business. In addition, this position deals with lawyers and members of the public on behalf of the judge. Since the Judicial Assistant/Paralegal is generally the first member of a judge's staff whom outsiders meet, the incumbent must have a pleasant and positive attitude, excellent organization skills and refined customer service skills.
Representative Duties:
• Manage day-to-day operations of chambers in a fast-paced environment. Monitor deadlines, prioritize tasks, and determine need for action by the judge. Compile and arrange information and data and prepare required periodic reports regarding court and non-court activities.
• Assist with selection of term law clerks. Distribute information and assignments to law clerks and interns. Provide orientation and training to law clerks and interns.
• Work cooperatively with and manage term law clerks so that, as a team, they effectively assist the judge in fulfilling judicial responsibilities.
• Effectively manage communications with other chambers.
• Review legal documents as assigned by the judge for completeness and accuracy. Compose, prepare, and/or edit correspondence, procedural orders, and documents that may require research or analysis.
• Perform functions in the court's case management and filing system, including monitoring the caseload, maintaining, updating, and tracking filed documents, organizing case-related filings and correspondence, logging actions, and updating case list. Distribute case information and assignments to law clerks. Screen cases for potential conflict. Maintain recusal list. Track and monitor calendars, filings, hearings, etc. Review daily reports to identify new filings.
• File orders, notices, and opinions in the court's electronic filing system. Create and update templates and standard documents for orders and other related documents.
• Prepare and maintain the judge's travel itineraries and coordinate with other court units. Make travel arrangements and prepare vouchers for reimbursement payments. Maintain the judge's calendar.
• Maintain chambers information storage and filing systems (electronic and paper) for case filings, correspondence, publications, data, forms, and other documents.
• Maintain office supplies and inventory of property assigned to chambers. Place calls for repair of office equipment.
• Other duties as requested.
• Some overnight travel required.
Minimum Qualifications:
• The successful applicant must be a high school graduate or equivalent and must have two years of general experience and four years of specialized experience to qualify for the lowest starting salary.
• The successful applicant must speak and write in grammatically correct and professional quality English and be able to communicate clearly and professionally with the public. In addition, the applicant must be proficient in using Microsoft Outlook email/calendaring, Microsoft Word, Excel spreadsheet management and Adobe. Proficiency is mission critical. General experience is progressively responsible general clerical or secretarial experience, and specialized experience is progressively responsible secretarial experience that involved responsibility as a principal office assistant to a supervisor who was dealing with law-related matters.
• Education above the high school level may be substituted for experience as follows:
Education in a college, university, or secretarial school of recognized standing may be substituted for a maximum of one year of general experience on the basis of 30 semester (45 quarter) hours equal nine months of experience.
A bachelor's degree from a college or university of recognized standing may be substituted for two years of general experience. Preferably, such degree should have included courses in law, government, public or business administration, or related fields.
Education in a legal or paralegal curriculum may be substituted for a maximum of two years of specialized experience on the basis of one full academic year (30 semester or 45 quarter hours) equals one year of experience. Less than one full year of study will be credited on a pro-rata basis.
Preferred Qualifications:
Preference will be given to applicants who possess:
- A four-year college degree;
- Significant legal secretarial, paralegal, and/or court clerk experience in the criminal or civil legal field, including electronic court filing; or,
- A Juris Doctor (JD) from a law school of recognized standing.
Benefits:
Benefits include paid federal holidays, paid vacation and sick leave, participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), and Thrift Savings Plan (401k). Benefits also include optional participation in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB), Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Program (FEGLI), Flexible Benefits Program, and Dental and Vision Insurance.
Application:
Interested applicants may apply by submitting (1) a completed application for judicial branch employment, form AO-78 (http://www.uscourts.gov/uscourts/FormsAndFees/Forms/AO078.pdf) (2) a detailed resume, and (3) a cover letter electronically at https://ca852383.hire.trakstar.com/jobs/fk0vq5m
Only those interviewed will be notified of the selection outcome. The court reserves the right to modify the conditions of this job announcement or to withdraw the announcement without written notice to applicants. Travel expenses for interviews cannot be reimbursed.
Background Investigation Requirements:
The initial appointment to this position is provisional pending the successful completion of the required background checks and/or investigations. All information provided by applicants is subject to verification and background investigation. Applicants are advised that false statements or omission of information on any application materials or the inability to meet the following conditions may be grounds for non-selection, withdrawal of an offer of employment or dismissal after being employed.
Conditions of Employment:
Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or be eligible to work in the United States. The position issubject to mandatory electronic fund transfer (direct deposit). Judiciary employees serve under excepted appointments and are considered "at will."
The United States Courts are EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYERS
and committed to equity and inclusion in its hiring practices.
